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Jacqueline Spence will take the reins of a school that was controversial even before it opened three years ago. While enrolment has climbed and test scores are strong, parent discord plagued founding principal Thando Hyman, who left in June for another school, at her own request.

The new leader will need “the hide of an elephant and the sensitivity of a tightrope walker to balance all the disparate views about the school,” noted Trustee Howard Kaplan.

But Jacqueline Spence said that, despite the delicate politics of the job, “When I was asked to consider the position I saw it as just a wonderful opportunity to work with students whose needs aren’t being met — and parent engagement is one of my strengths, so I look forward to working collaboratively.”

Spence was principal at two Jane-Finch public elementary schools, Gosford and Shoreham, before leaving to become director of the Urban Diversity Program at York University’s teachers’ college for three years. She returned last fall to the TDSB as central coordinating principal of equity and inclusive schools, where she has helped develop curriculum for a proposed Africentric high school program planned for this fall at Winston Churchill Collegiate.

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The 45-year-old mother of two, who lives in York Region, added: “I really do have a passion for equity, and I’m looking forward to going back to daily interaction with students and putting those equity policies to daily use.”

While Kaplan praised Jacqueline Spence’s academic chops, he said he asked her during the job interview about her connection to the director, whom she called her “big brother.” But Kaplan said, “There’s no favoritism at all in any of this process; the director doesn’t have a say in individual transfers and appointments.” Principals are selected by the local trustee, superintendent and members of the school’s parent council. Chris Spence told the Star he was not involved in her appointment.

“I am proud of her and know she will make an immediate impact with students, staff and community,” said Chris Spence, “but if you look at the body of work she brings to the table — from work experiences to teaching background — people will quickly recognize this opportunity is about her deep commitment to making a difference.”

Board spokesperson Shari Schwart-Maltz said the new principal says the most relevant professional connection with her brother “is a shared vision of the importance of Africentric education.”

Located in a wing of Sheppard Public School near Keele St., this is the only public elementary school in the country that teaches curriculum from an Africentric angle, choosing black or African authors to read, scientists to study, leaders to discover. Teachers of colour are meant to serve as role models in a community that often complains it does not see itself reflected in teaching staff. While it is open to students of all backgrounds, most are black.

The school is one way the board is trying to fight a stubborn dropout rate among black teens that has been as high as 40 per cent. Launched after years of debate between supporters and those who call it segregation, the school started with offering junior kindergarten to Grade 5 and has added a grade each year. Its first class of Grade 8 graduates is due next spring, some of whom may choose to attend an Africentric high school program.

Like Jacqueline Spence, Thando Hyman had experience in the fields of equity and black heritage, but a small group of parents complained Hyman did not give them enough say in programming, which they felt should be more Africentric. One of them accused Hyman of misconduct in 2010 and she was suspended with pay for two months until investigators exonerated her and she was reinstated.

Like Hyman, the new administrator could immediately face a continuing debate among parents and the broader community as to just how Africentric an Africentric school should be.

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